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Louisville's Iconic Meat Dishes

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From the humble cheeseburger to the high-class Hot Brown, the people of Louisville (and those living nearby) have produced some meat dishes that are icons not only to our city, but also the world. To kick off Eater's Five Days of Meat, we present some places that feature meaty icons available in Derby City. Any observations, objections or omissions will as always be welcomed in the comments section.


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Wagner's Pharmacy

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Operating since 1922, this small pharmacy near Churchill Downs, beloved by trainers, touts and track rats, serves a plain, honest bologna sandwich (hot or cold). [Photo: Facebook]

The Brown Hotel

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First made for hungry drunks during Prohibition at this downtown hotel, the turkey, tomato, toast, bacon and Mornay sauce of a Hot Brown has become one of Louisville's signature dishes.

Ollie's Trolley

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Ollie Gleichenhaus' multi-secret-spice burger attracted the attention of KFC magnate/former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown, who tried to do for Ollie's tiny burger joint in Miami Beach what he did for Colonel Sanders. Ollie’s franchise did not turn out to be the next KFC, but a few have survived, including one not too far from the Yum! Center. [Photo: Facebook]

Dizzy Whizz Drive-In

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Offering both counter and curb service, Dizzy Whizz has been dishing up the "Famous WhizzBurger™" since 1947, before certain other double-decker burgers "with special sauce, lettuce and cheese" broke the "billions and billions" barrier.

Bearno's By-The-Bridge

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A true Louisville-style pizza is Bearno's All Meat Special, an "enormous pizza ... piled high with sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, ham, bacon, slices of Bearno’s Homemade Italian Link Sausage, and covered with plenty of cheese."

Check's Cafe

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Served with or without spaghetti or cheese, available on a hot dog or over french fries, Check's chili has been "an original since 1944." Take that, Cincinnati! [Photo: Facebook]

Mark's Feed Store

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Along with some of the only mustard-based barbecue in town (but that's a South Carolina thing), Mark's serves up a pretty mean Kentucky burgoo. They describe theirs as "a hearty stew with meat, veggies and spices," but it's a pretty good bet the meat isn't squirrel—a traditional ingredient in Kentucky burgoo.

Kaelin's Coffeehouse

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This coffeehouse shares the same name and geographic location, but otherwise has no other relation to the venerable dining spot that gave the world the cheeseburger. Well, they do still have the original sign and the "If you can't stop, please wave" sign around someplace, even though the original structure is now attached to a place called Mulligan's. Like most places on earth, they have a cheeseburger. [Photo: Facebook]

Pat's Steakhouse

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The oldest steakhouse in Louisville, Pat's has been in operation since 1958 when it opened as Min's Steakhouse. The "Specialty of the House" is two pounds of aged U.S. Prime Porterhouse steak, which (because Pat's is a generous place) includes "a salad and your choice of two sides."
Harlan Sanders may have come up with his secret recipe in Corbin, Kentucky, but his "finger lickin' good" legacy looms large over Louisville. From corporate headquarters to arena to buckets and boxes all over town, the Colonel is everywhere.[Photo: Facebook]

Morris' Liquors & Deli

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Country ham is one of Kentucky's culinary gifts to the world, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a well prepared sandwich. There's a nice one available at Morris' Deli. [Photo: Facebook]

J. Harrod's

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Louisvillians love livers, especially if they are fried and of the chicken variety. J Harrod's offers chicken livers sauteed with strips of country ham, carmelized onions and gravy, and some say they're the best in town.

Wagner's Pharmacy

Operating since 1922, this small pharmacy near Churchill Downs, beloved by trainers, touts and track rats, serves a plain, honest bologna sandwich (hot or cold). [Photo: Facebook]

The Brown Hotel

First made for hungry drunks during Prohibition at this downtown hotel, the turkey, tomato, toast, bacon and Mornay sauce of a Hot Brown has become one of Louisville's signature dishes.

Ollie's Trolley

Ollie Gleichenhaus' multi-secret-spice burger attracted the attention of KFC magnate/former Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown, who tried to do for Ollie's tiny burger joint in Miami Beach what he did for Colonel Sanders. Ollie’s franchise did not turn out to be the next KFC, but a few have survived, including one not too far from the Yum! Center. [Photo: Facebook]

Dizzy Whizz Drive-In

Offering both counter and curb service, Dizzy Whizz has been dishing up the "Famous WhizzBurger™" since 1947, before certain other double-decker burgers "with special sauce, lettuce and cheese" broke the "billions and billions" barrier.

Bearno's By-The-Bridge

A true Louisville-style pizza is Bearno's All Meat Special, an "enormous pizza ... piled high with sausage, pepperoni, hamburger, ham, bacon, slices of Bearno’s Homemade Italian Link Sausage, and covered with plenty of cheese."

Check's Cafe

Served with or without spaghetti or cheese, available on a hot dog or over french fries, Check's chili has been "an original since 1944." Take that, Cincinnati! [Photo: Facebook]

Mark's Feed Store

Along with some of the only mustard-based barbecue in town (but that's a South Carolina thing), Mark's serves up a pretty mean Kentucky burgoo. They describe theirs as "a hearty stew with meat, veggies and spices," but it's a pretty good bet the meat isn't squirrel—a traditional ingredient in Kentucky burgoo.

Kaelin's Coffeehouse

This coffeehouse shares the same name and geographic location, but otherwise has no other relation to the venerable dining spot that gave the world the cheeseburger. Well, they do still have the original sign and the "If you can't stop, please wave" sign around someplace, even though the original structure is now attached to a place called Mulligan's. Like most places on earth, they have a cheeseburger. [Photo: Facebook]

Pat's Steakhouse

The oldest steakhouse in Louisville, Pat's has been in operation since 1958 when it opened as Min's Steakhouse. The "Specialty of the House" is two pounds of aged U.S. Prime Porterhouse steak, which (because Pat's is a generous place) includes "a salad and your choice of two sides."

KFC

Harlan Sanders may have come up with his secret recipe in Corbin, Kentucky, but his "finger lickin' good" legacy looms large over Louisville. From corporate headquarters to arena to buckets and boxes all over town, the Colonel is everywhere.[Photo: Facebook]

Morris' Liquors & Deli

Country ham is one of Kentucky's culinary gifts to the world, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a well prepared sandwich. There's a nice one available at Morris' Deli. [Photo: Facebook]

J. Harrod's

Louisvillians love livers, especially if they are fried and of the chicken variety. J Harrod's offers chicken livers sauteed with strips of country ham, carmelized onions and gravy, and some say they're the best in town.